Friends at 30: Revisiting ‘The One with the Breast Milk’

As Friends celebrates its 30th anniversary, it’s hard not to reflect on some of the show’s most memorable episodes—those that made us laugh, cry, and, sometimes, think about important real-life topics. One such episode is Season 2’s “The One with the Breast Milk,” which aired in 1995. While the show often tackled dating, friendship, and career challenges, this episode took a refreshing detour to address something rarely seen on TV at the time—breastfeeding.

In a moment that blended comedy with a touch of awkwardness, this episode gave a surprisingly honest glimpse into the realities of motherhood, breastfeeding, and how those around the new mom react. As we honour Friends three decades on, it’s worth revisiting how this episode broke the ice on a subject that was often considered taboo on television.

A Groundbreaking Episode

In “The One with the Breast Milk,” we see Ross’s ex-wife, Carol, breastfeeding their newborn son, Ben. While Carol’s breastfeeding journey is presented as normal and healthy, the plot focuses on the discomfort of the characters. When Chandler and Joey see Susan breastfeeding Ben for the first time, they’re caught off guard. Their reaction is pure awkwardness, with both characters visibly uncomfortable with the sight – so much so that they move into the kitchen area away from the breastfeeding scene.

Ross notices their awkwardness and calls them out on it – telling them breastfeeding is “the most natural and beautiful thing in the world”. He encourages them to ask Susan questions about breastfeeding to help take away any strangeness they feel about the act.

Ross, although comfortable with his ex-wife breastfeeding their son, has his own hangups about breast milk. This is evidenced later in the episode when Phoebe is warming a bottle of breast milk for Ben. She puts some of the breast milk on her arm to test the temperature and in doing so illicits a strong negative reaction amongst Ross, Rachel and Chandler. All of them perceive this to be weird and gross as it’s “juice squeezed from a person”. Meanwhile Joey has no problem with tasting it and both he and Phoebe can’t understand why the rest of their friends feel such an aversion towards drinking human milk.

When Phoebe tells Susan about Ross’ reaction to her breast milk, Susan outright challenges Ross to taste it in-front of her but he can’t do it, saying it’s ‘gross’. It’s only until the very end up the episode that we see Ross sit down with the bottle of breast milk and drink it with cookies, admitting ‘it’s not bad’ as Chandler and Joey watch on in amusement.

A Window Into Social Taboos

This episode is an excellent example of how Friends used humour to address topics that were still somewhat taboo in the 90s. While Chandler and Joey’s reactions are funny, they also serve as a commentary on how society at the time viewed breastfeeding as something to be hidden or kept private. By showcasing their awkwardness, the episode invites viewers to laugh at their discomfort while subtly suggesting that breastfeeding is a normal, everyday act that shouldn’t be met with embarrassment.

As the episode progresses, and Ross finally decides to try the ‘gross’ breast milk – only to discover it’s not that bad! This goes a long way to breaking down taboos around breast milk and breastfeeding. For their part, Friends helped make breastfeeding a more comfortable and acceptable topic in mainstream media.

Breastfeeding on TV: Then and Now

Back in 1995, the portrayal of breastfeeding on television was still a rare sight. While it wasn’t completely absent from TV (remember the 1977 Sesame Street episode?), it was often portrayed in a discreet or sanitised manner. “The One with the Breast Milk” brought breastfeeding into the spotlight, making it a topic of conversation in a fun, relatable way. It didn’t preach, but it allowed viewers to laugh at the absurdity of being uncomfortable with something so natural.

Fast forward to today, and breastfeeding is much more visible in media, with shows and films depicting it as a normal, healthy practice. Society’s views have progressed, and the conversation around breastfeeding, including topics like breastfeeding in public and breastfeeding beyond infancy, has evolved. But it’s episodes like this one from Friends that helped chip away at the stigma, normalising breastfeeding for a broad audience.

Why ‘The One with the Breast Milk’ Still Matters

Even 30 years later, Friends continues to be celebrated for its cultural relevance, and “The One with the Breast Milk” is no exception. While it’s easy to focus on the humour of the episode, its underlying message is still significant. Breastfeeding is a natural part of life, and by showing characters dealing with their discomfort and ultimately accepting it, Friends pushed a conversation into mainstream entertainment that needed to happen.

As we reflect on three decades of Friends, it’s clear that this episode has stood the test of time—not just for its humour, but for its contribution to normalising breastfeeding. In a show that dealt with relationships, careers, and the ups and downs of friendship, Friends also showed us the importance of supporting new mothers and the realities of parenting. For that reason, “The One with the Breast Milk” remains an iconic moment in television history.